Mr. Shi’s Dumplings

You’d be a fool to leave Beijing without inhaling dozens of dumplings, but for vegetarians, this is easier said than done. At this Baochao Hutong restaurant, there are several vegetarian options like eggplant, tomato, and mushroom or cabbage, carrot, and coriander.

Some of the dumplings are out there — pizza? Beef and cheese? -— but you can’t go wrong with the pork and leek, mushroom, bok choy, and spinach, or shrimp and egg. The small space has the feel of a hostel common room, the walls decorated in drawings and signatures, the tables full of visitors from around the globe. Dumplings come 12 to a plate, boiled or pan-fried.